This is a really unique book – recommended by iO9. (recommend io9.com ) It’s magic and it’s a bit steampunk but it’s also quite a bit modern in its thinking. No “medieval fantasy tropes” here.
Our hero is Tara – recently graduated (and tossed out – literally) from the Hidden Schools as a “Craftswoman” – a type of magician. Very very skilled and smart. She makes her way home to the dirt town she grew up in to recover, but that doesn’t last long and she is about to be run out by pitchforks and torches (townsfolk are not big fans of magic or zombies) when she is offered a job by a senior Craftswoman “Ms. Kavanian”. She accepts the position of course and they are quickly off to the steam powered city of Alt Coulumb to investigate the death of a god (and possibly resurrect him).
Kos, the god of fire, was the source of heat for the city’s steam turbines. In this world there are many Gods, and they interact with their followers and have a very hands-on approach to the cities they’re sworn to protect. While they are very powerful, they can be damaged and lose power by the demands made upon them by their worshippers. An interesting concept. There are a number of interesting concepts in this book . Magic and steampunk, but with skyscrapers and disco clubs with bass thumping music and very sophisticated levels of contract and business management. Also vampires who can sort of go out in the day if they get enough of a tan, hive mind Robocop-like “Justices” and also Gargoyles (Stone Men).
Tara has to go to trial against the Professor who had her thrown out from her school and must prove what happened to the God “Kos” – who is at fault, how it happened and what can be done. Police procedural, CSI Law and Order and perhaps a touch of The Fifth Element? All with magic and vampires, gargoyles and black clad hive mind “Justices”. It’s pretty awesome. Check it out.